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Goal of the Year

David Prentice

It all depends on whether you prefer individual exhibitions of brilliance, or slick and swift team moves.

The wonderful, one-end of the pitch to the other, finished off by Richarlison against Brighton in November, was an outstanding example of the latter. It was also reminiscent of the move which completed Bob Latchford's hat-trick against Coventry 41 years earlier, so a tick in the box for the older 70s-nostalgia obsessed Evertonian.

But there has been no sweeter moment that Gylfi Sigurdsson's strike at Leicester in October.

It started with a Cruyff turn and ended with a dipping, 25-yard exocet.

James Maddison was completely bamboozled by the deft turn, before Kasper Schmeichel was left reaching for thin air as the Icelandic international blasted an absolute rocket passed him into the back of the net.

Stunning. Truly, unequivocally stunning.

It sent the supporters in that corner wild and you just wonder how long it will be until Everton score a goal that good again.

Chris Beesley

Of course Gylfi Sigurdsson's exocet missile at Leicester City was the most spectacular strike of the calendar year from an Everton player but for merely warming the cockles of one's heart (and they needed warming that day), I've gone for something different.

It's another all-too-rare winner away from home and again it came in the Midlands against an opponent reduced to 10 men.

I've gone for Cenk Tosun's diving header on a snowy March day at the bet365 Stadium when the Potters had painted the pitch lines blue instead of white.

Trips to Stoke were iconically difficult for all visitors throughout their decade-long stint in the Premier League - Everton started with a 3-2 win there in 2008 having earlier surrendered a 2-0 lead and had manager David Moyes sent to the stands - and in what proved to be the final season of that run this was no different.

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Technically it was a simple goal, nothing special, but it felt very important at the time as Sam Allardyce's two January signings combined to provide some early promise that unfortunately has not been replicated on a regular basis.

There was a right wing cross from Theo Walcott and the Turk bravely attacked the ball to nod it home in a fashion that was reminiscent of Andy Gray in his Everton pomp.

Player of the Year

David Prentice

The aforementioned Sigurdsson has had a fine year, Jordan Pickford has had some stellar highs but also some lows borne of inexperience but a man who has epitomised consistency throughout 2018 is a man who endured a turbulent 2017.

Michael Keane's comeback to form which saw him win England recognition has been exemplary.

Everton added two high class centre-backs in the summer, but Keane's name is still the first on the defensive teamsheet - which speaks volumes.

Talk about his recent mistakes all you want, but for me Jordan Pickford has quite clearly been head and shoulders above any other Everton player.

It doesn't bear thinking about where the Blues might have been in the 2017/18 season without the England international - who produced a number of absolutely breath-taking performances between the sticks to keep the Blues from conceding what would have been a truly obscene amount of goals.

It might have been away from Goodison Park but his displays in the World Cup are well worth mentioning, standing up in the face of countless haters across the nation to prove himself a pivotal cog in Gareth Southgate's road to the semi final.

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This season so far has, admittedly, been a bit more difficult - with a few costly mistakes creeping in along the way. But what young player is perfect?

For the sheer quality Pickford has already brought to the table at the grand young age of 24, the former Sunderland man claims my accolade.

Chris Beesley

Jordan Pickford gets the nod despite some glaring howlers in December - notably his last-gasp derby nightmare at Anfield and wild display against Tottenham.

It must be remembered that Pickford is still a relatively young keeper learning his trade and hopefully he can come back stronger from such errors of judgement but he became a national treasure over the summer with his World Cup heroics for England.

Support for the Three Lions hasn't always come easily for many Merseyside football fans and having England's number one for the first time is a unique experience for Blues supporters given the merciless spotlight it puts Pickford under.

He continues to get more things right than wrong though so let's hope he's even better in 2019.

The Blues' away form has been dreadful throughout 2018, and even before then if we're being completely honest.

Lucas Digne of Everton (obscured) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Yerry Mina (top) and team mates during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Everton FC at Turf Moor on December 26 (Image: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

But Everton were absolutely ruthless at Turf Moor, punishing the hosts for nearly every mistake they made in blitzing to an early 3-0 lead, which honestly surprised the Blues fans in the stadium as much as the home support.

Eventually running out 5-1 winners thanks to a collection of lovely goals, away days don't really get much better than that do they?

Chris Beesley

There weren't that many to be fair.

The one afternoon when everything seemed to click into place though was the 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on November 3 when Marco Silva's methods appeared to be blossoming and Everton looked like they could be emerging as a side who could credibly challenge the Premier League's established elite. Visiting boss Chris Hughton certainly thought so.

On the flip side, that just makes their sorry defeat in the return fixture in what was their final match of the calendar year all the tougher to take.

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Clearly full of confidence and belief again, Keane has fully established himself as an integral member of the side and that doesn't look like changing any time soon.

Considering his standing last season, that's an incredible turnaround, and one that is rightly being lauded.

Chris Beesley

Michael Keane. The England international was written off by many after flattering to deceive in a difficult debut season following his big money move from Burnley.

However, after struggling to impress under three centre-backs last term - Ronald Koeman , David Unsworth and Sam Allardyce - he wiped the slate clean over the summer and has looked far more like his old self under Silva.

He's still got a heck of a long way to go but shades of Dave Watson dare I suggest in the way he's bounced back strongly after rocky start?

Michael Keane climbs high to score (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Signing of the Year

David Prentice

It's been a very good year for Everton incomings.

Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun were canny purchases from the host of Christmas past, while the Marco Silva/Marcel Brands additions have been heartwarming.

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As I know another colleague has chosen Lucas Digne, I'll be different and plump for Richarlison.

What an incredible talent the Brazilian has proven himself to be.

Eyebrows were certainly raised by some when Everton shelled out the big money to bring the 21-year-old to Goodison Park in the summer. Remember when that move 'ruined the transfer market', hey?

How right the Blues were, though.

Announcing himself in style with a brace on his debut, the forward has only excelled since then, scoring a string of fantastic and important goals as he quickly established himself as one of Silva's best players.

Richarlison of Everton celebrates as he scores his team's fifth goal during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Everton FC at Turf Moor on December 26 (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

His versatility is perhaps working against him right now as Richarlison's position is constantly switching between the left flank and the central striking role.

But Everton supporters have been delighted with not just the goals and excitement he brings to the side - but how quickly he has connected to them as a fanbase.

Kindness goes a long way in football, and the Brazilian international has been giving that out in spades off the pitch so far.

Long may it continue.

Chris Beesley

Lucas Digne. After failing to sign a left-back to rival Leighton Baines the previous summer it was crucial for Everton to bolster the position ahead of the 2018/19 season.

The Blues didn't just bring in a man to push Baines, Digne swiftly looks to have finished one of the careers as first choice for one of Goodison's finest sons.

As far as Everton left-backs go, Baines is arguably second only to World Cup winner Ray Wilson - who we said goodbye to in 2018 - but given the transformation in the role of modern players in the position, while perhaps not as sound in defence, offered much more going forward than his illustrious predecessor.

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He looks hard-pressed to get back in the side if Digne's fit though and the biggest compliment you can give to the former Barcelona man is that he does a pretty good impression of the now 34-year-old Baines in his pomp a decade ago.

As someone who takes old-school approach myself - forgoing modern fads for gloves and under armour (just run about, then you won't be cold) - I also like that the Frenchman continues to snub the jackets worn by his team-mates in the pre-match warm-ups.